The simple answer is yes.
Unlike traditional myth, I recommend to blow dry your hair rather than to let it dry naturally. Why?
The hair is made up of a cortex, which is the area that pulls the shape of your hair and then cuticles around the side, which are a bit like roof tiles. When hair is wet, cortex get swelled up by water. This means pressure is put on the cuticles which can cause the hair to break, leading to split ends. Repeated swelling and slow drying of hair causes the cell membrane complex (the glue that holds the cuticle together) to crack, which damages the hair. This is why we need to shorten the time of hair being wet. Best way to do so? Drying your hair with a hair dryer.
You may argue that heat from blow dryer will damage the hair too. But if you choose a good hair dryer, combined with heat protection spray, it will bring less damage to your hair than let it dry naturally.
But how do we choose a good hair dryer? Let's discuss the different types of hair dryers that are available on the market.
Ceramic Hair Dryers
Ceramic is a composite material usually made of clay. It can be used in the body of a dryer, the heating element, or as a coating on internal parts. Ceramic hair dryers like the Philips Pro HPS910 emits non-damaging infrared heat that penetrates the hair shaft and preserve the hair’s natural moisture and luster.
Ionic Hair Dryers
Ions refer to any particle with a negative or positive charge. The ions in water are positively charged and ionic hair dryers shoot negative ions. The negative ions from the hair dryer interact with wet hair by breaking down the water molecules, allowing the smaller droplets to penetrate the outer layer of the hair shaft. Panasonic EH-NE42 Ionity Hair Dryer features ionic technology that reduces the hair's surface tension, leaving locks shiny and frizz-free.
Tourmaline Hair Dryers
Tourmaline is a semi-precious mineral which generates only negative ions when heated. It produces infrared heat and only generates negative ions when heated, thus maximizing the negative ion output, closing the cuticle layer and creating smooth hair. T3 Featherweight Luxe 2i Hair Dryer combines tourmaline with an ion generator that work in synergy to emit negative ions and infrared heat, providing you with a luxurious drying experience.
Pick a dryer around 1800 watts, to ensure it has lots of power. You don’t want to deal with anything weaker than 1200, especially since higher power means you can lower the heat. (More wind and less heat is a good-for-you combo.) And, if you invest in an ionic dryer, then you can cut down on the heat-exposure time: It works fast, and it parches your hair even faster.
How to correctly dry your hair with blow dryer?
1.Towel dry your hair by squeezing the water out rather than shaking and rubbing your hair as this can also cause damage.
2. Use a heat-protectant product.
We have several options for you:
O'Douds Sea Salt Texture Spray
The Salon Guy - 25 Leave In Treatment Spray
Templeton Tonics White Whale Prestyler Tonic
UBERSUAVE Diamond Lock Hair Spray
3. Keep the dryer moving to distribute the heat evenly, at a distance of 15cm - the agreed upon, healthy distance, so long as you keep that barrel moving around.
4. Use cold wind to finish and lock your style once you get your hair 80% dry.
Follow these steps and you will be just fine. Happy shopping!
